I want a pole or stand that my assistant can hold to point a small softbox at an event or outdoor shoot that calls for a two-legged-lightstand. Yes, I can offer him or her a folded lightstand but I wonder if anyone has seen a pole with better handle, grip surfaces -- to make pointing, lifting, holding easier?

I made one, it wasn't difficult, from a SureLine painters pole, they are really well made with very comfortable hand grips. I just drilled and taped the end with a 3/8-16 thread and put a spigot on it. I can then put any lighting accessory on it.

But the Kacey is definitely the nicest "over the counter" solution I have seen.

Too often we lose sight of the fact that photography is about capturing light, if we have the ability to take control of that light then we grow exponentially as photographers. More often than not the image is not about lens speed, sensor size, DR, MP's or AF, it is about the light.

Great! Thank you Chris, Neuro, PbD, for reminding me about Kaycee. I stumbled on their site a long time ago and was impressed with the range of solutions they offer. But I always thought about their gear when not at a computer. There's other gear I need available there, too.